Washer Drum Dehumidification Using Door-Triggered Moisture Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Laundry treating appliances often experience moisture retention after cycles, leading to mold, mildew, and unpleasant odors due to high humidity within the treating chamber and appliance areas, especially when laundry is left inside or moisture remains post-cycle.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a humidity reduction system with a fan and/or heat source that dehumidifies the air within the treating chamber, controlled by sensors to determine the door position and initiate dehumidification processes after cycle completion or when the door is opened, ensuring effective moisture reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the door remains closed after a treating cycle to maintain appliance integrity and user convenience, then the treating chamber is protected and easy to operate, but moisture accumulates leading to mold, mildew, and unpleasant odors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidmoisture accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The controller initiates a dehumidification cycle automatically after the treating cycle completes, before the user opens the door. This preliminary action removes moisture that would otherwise accumulate during the door-closed period, preventing mold and mildew growth while maintaining the convenience of keeping the door closed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses door position sensors to detect when the door is closed after a treating cycle, and this feedback triggers the dehumidification process. The controller monitors the door state and activates the dehumidifier accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to actual operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If dehumidification runs continuously to prevent moisture buildup, then humidity levels are controlled effectively, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehumidity controlVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous operation, the dehumidifier runs periodically based on specific triggers: after each treating cycle completes and the door remains closed for a predetermined time. This periodic operation maintains effective humidity control while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The dehumidification process is initiated as a preliminary action following detected door-closed conditions, performing moisture removal at strategically timed intervals rather than continuously, thereby balancing reliability with energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Extent of automation

If the appliance waits for door opening to detect laundry removal before dehumidifying, then automation is improved, but moisture removal is delayed increasing mold risk

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveautomationVSAvoidtime delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary dehumidification immediately after the treating cycle ends and the door is detected closed, rather than waiting for door opening. This preliminary moisture removal happens in advance, reducing the time moisture is present and lowering mold risk while maintaining high automation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The dehumidification process serves as a preliminary anti-action against potential moisture-related problems. By removing moisture early in the door-closed period, the system preemptively counteracts the conditions that would lead to mold and mildew, rather than reacting after the problem begins.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively reduces humidity levels, inhibiting the growth of microorganisms and associated odors, improving appliance hygiene and user satisfaction by ensuring timely and targeted dehumidification.

Implementation Method 1

a fan and/or heat source for dehumidifying the air within the treating chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir circulation: Convection

Implementation Method 2

a fan and/or heat source for dehumidifying the air within the treating chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS9109317B2Controlled moisture removal in a laundry treating appliance

Publication Date: 2015.08.18 WHIRLPOOL CORP

AI summary

An automatic washing machine including a tub, a drum mounted for rotating within the tub, a treating chamber for receiving laundry to be treated, a door selectively moveable between opened and closed conditions to provide access to the treating chamber, a position sensor configured to sense the opened and closed conditions of the door and accordingly output a door condition signal, a humidity reduction device coupled to the treating chamber, and a controller configured to execute a treating cycle of operation and operably coupled with the position sensor to receive the door condition signal and the humidity reduction device to control its actuation, and further configured to operate the humidity reduction device and to rotate the drum to reduce the humidity in the treating chamber in response to the door being opened and subsequently closed after the completion of the treating cycle of operation.